This week, I’ve had Journey’s “Open Arms” #OnRepeat. I just recently saw the movie, Daddy’s Home 2 (yes, I know it’s a holiday movie and I’m late in watching it), and now I can’t get that song out of my head.
Journey is a rock band from San Francisco, California that formed in 1973 from past members of the rock bands Frumious Bandersnatch and Santana. I know a lot of people (musicians and non-musicians alike) who have a love/hate relationship with this group primarily because of their mixing of Pop musical elements in the arranging of their music, which blends that with Jazz, Hard, Soft, and Progressive Rock. Despite this, they have topped both the US and UK charts several times, selling over millions of albums and being inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. Some of their most popular songs are “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “After the Fall,” “Faithfully,” and “Who’s Cryin’ Now.”
The song “Open Arms” was a song written by Journey band members Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain off their album, Escape, in 1981. The lyrics are told from the point of view of someone professing their love and begging their significant other to forgive the past and start fresh. The song has often been associated with the style power ballad (a slow, emotive song that eventually builds to a great climax backed by guitars and drums) because of Steve Perry’s wide vocal range and bright, crisp sound. Perry’s vocal style and the melody backed by piano, guitar and drums have caused this song to be considered by many to be a classic ballad, making you feel the “lump in the throat,” stirring up feelings of nostalgia, and memories of your first kiss or high school prom. Yeah, I think it’s that good.
Take a listen below:
What do you think? Do you have a favorite Journey song? Leave a comment and let me know why!